Arcs of crackling energy danced between her fingertips, illuminating the battlefield with a dazzling display of light.

Desira unleashed her magic upon the angels, the force of her spell crashing into them with the fury of a raging storm.

The air crackled with energy as the angels faltered under the onslaught, their once-impenetrable defenses crumbling before the might of Desira's magic.

As the dust settled, the hammer angels stood no more, reduced to nothing but wisps of smoke and ash that scattered upon the wind.

Desira and the others watched as the last remnants of the hammer angels faded into oblivion, their spirits soaring with the exhilaration of victory.

But as they turned their gaze towards Nyxos, they found no hint of surprise or dismay upon his impassive visage.

Instead, his expression remained unchanged, as if the defeat of his Hammer Angels meant nothing to him.

It was then that Desira and the others realized the truth. The hammer angels had been nothing more than pawns in Nyxos's grand scheme, sacrificial pieces meant to buy him time to complete his ritual.

"Something feels off," Malifira murmured, her senses on edge.

"I sense the presence of potent spell being activated," Desira added, her tone grave.

"Huh? What does that mean?" Vivi asked, confused.

Suddenly, a large pentagram dominated the floor, its lines etched in shimmering black against the backdrop of dark stone.

Each point of the pentagram was meticulously drawn, forming a perfect geometric pattern that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

At the center of the pentagram, symbols of arcane power were inscribed, their meaning known only to those well-versed in the ancient arts.

As Ren and the others stood within the pentagram's confines, a sudden disturbance rippled through the air. Shadows began to swirl and dance around them, twisting and contorting in unnatural ways.

Then, with a flash of blinding light, the shadows were torn away from their owners, as if forcibly ripped from their very beings.

Shock and disbelief washed over Ren as he beheld another him standing before him, a perfect replica crafted from shadow. His heart sank as he realized the implications of this eerie doppelganger.

Elena's eyes widened in alarm, her whip instinctively coiling around her wrist as she faced her shadow self, mirroring her every move with unsettling precision.

Evie's gaze shifted to her shadow counterpart, a silent reflection of her own skills and demeanor staring back at her.

"W-what's happening? What are these things?" Vivi asked, her voice trembling with alarm as she beheld another version of herself.

Desira's expression darkened, her gaze narrowing as she pointed a finger at her shadow self. "Hey! You better step back into line right now! There's only room for one Desira here! Even if you're my shadow, I won't hesitate to kill you!"

Malifira let out a weary sigh, her features betraying a hint of exasperation. "I don't think that's a wise decision. If we kill these things, we will be killed along with it."

"What?!" Everyone's face were drained of colors.

"S-so what are we going to do about these?" Vivi asked, her voice trembling.

Malifira fell silent for a moment, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "I will find a way. This is probably Nyxos's ace, and it involves a very ancient spell that's notoriously difficult to break."

Ren was well aware of the spell; fortunately, Nyxos could only use his legendary spell, [Shadow Extraction], once a day. It was a lengthy incantation to cast but incredibly troublesome once successfully executed.

As Ren pondered their predicament, he felt a sense of helplessness. He had no clue how to retrieve their shadows, but perhaps Malifira would indeed find a solution.

Alternatively, they could confront Nyxos and attempt to rescue Lorelai, though that route might prove to be faster but riskier.

"Things are beginning to get complicated," Ren mused, his thoughts swirling with how to get out from this predicament.

Ren was only betting at Azazel and the others to defeat Nyxos and free Lorelai from whatever was happening to her. He didn't even have a clue as to what was going on and how to win in this fight.

But the description of Nyxos's skill had given Ren a glimpse of what might have gone wrong with Lorelai.

Malifira laughed slightly as she tried to conceal her unease. "I can't believe we've fallen right into his trap," she admitted, her voice laced with frustration and regret.

Azazel's confusion was palpable as he watched his shadow mimic his every move. "These things are bizarre," he muttered, his hands gesturing in futile attempts to understand the situation.

Iraelyn remained unperturbed, her muscles tensing as she flexed with a sense of anticipation. "Heh. I've always wanted to test my strength against myself. Now's the perfect opportunity," she declared, a faint glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

Pamela's frustration was evident as she grabbed her hair, almost tearing them apart. Her gaze flickered between her shadow and the chaos unfolding around them. "This is no time for games!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with urgency. "We're in deep trouble here!"

Nyxos smiled slightly. With a casual wave of his hand, he dismissed the others, intent on pursuing his own agenda. "Excuse me while I go finish my experiment," he declared, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Have fun playing around with your shadows. Lorelai, come."

Lorelai abruptly halted all movement and swiftly flew to Nyxos's side, disregarding the calls of the others.

"Lorelai! Wait!" Azazel shouted, and attempted to reach her.

Before Azazel could react, his path was blocked by his own shadow, standing tall and imposing in his way. Frustration boiled within him as he watched Nyxos depart, leaving them to deal with this bizarre situation.

Trapped within the confines of the room with their shadows, Ren and the others were faced with the daunting task of confronting their other self, each a twisted reflection of their own character.

"Listen up, everyone!" Ren called for their attention. "Nyxos has this ability called [Shadow Imprisonment], which he could use on only one creature at a time. I believe that he had used his ability to imprison Lorelai's shadow."